Mine are straight through you can look in one end and right out the other. I didn't lose any torque that I could feel and my dyno numbers are pretty high. You may have lost some if you didn't jet for the changes as you would be lean now. That first baffle nearest the reducer cone is the one I m,eant that Chevy605 drills the holes in. I have heard of guys taking the cat out by cutting that pin, I have never personally done this so I can't give you any more info than that.

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